Hair holding device



July 22, 1958 N. SOLOMON 2,844,154

HAIR HOLDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 6, 1956 INVENTOR. /V i THANL5oL0M0/v A TORNEY United States Patent HAIR HOLDING DEVICE Nathan L. Solomon, Englewood, N. J.

Application August 6, 1956, Serial No. 602,325

1 Claim. (Cl. 132-48) This invention relates to devices produced in varied lengths for holding or supporting womens hair in predetermined positions. More particularly, the invent-ion deals with an expandable and flexible device having oppositely directed tooth-like members adapted to be separated and relatively flexed in mounting the device in the hair to conform with and retain the hair in the predetermined or desired position.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of the invention is disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

The drawing is a plan view of a sectional portion of a device made according to my invention, the device being shown on an enlarged or exaggerated scale for sake of clarity.

My improved device comprises a multiplicity of oppositely directly tooth-like members 1 and 2, the device being formed from any suitable spring material which can be moulded or otherwise formed. In the case of using metal, a spring metal will be employed and this can be coated with suitable enamel or plated by known plating operations, as with other devices of this type and kind.

For purposes of description, the device may be said to be made from a more or less continuous and preferably round strand 3, fashioned to form the two tooth members 1 and 2 at opposed sides of the device, the members 1 having rounded ends 4 extending into contractions 5 adjacent said ends 4, the contractions, in combination with the rounded ends, forming what might be termed teardrop opening 6, in which a part of the hair is adapted to be confined in partial support of the device in the hair.

Extending from the contractions are expanded curved portions 7 terminating in other contractions 8, generally similar to the contractions 5, thus forming what might be said to be flat elliptical hair confining openings 9. Extending beyond the contractions 8 are flared portions 10 which extend into straight parallel and spaced sides 11, forming throat-like openings 12 between adjacent tooth members 2. In other words, the sides 11 join similar and spaced sides 13 in rounded end portions 14 which form the ends of the tooth members upon the device.

Between the parallel sides 11 and 13 of the members 2 are restricted openings or spaces 15, suflicient clearance being provided for the application of platings or coatings to a strand, particularly when the strand of the device is formed of metal. However, in shaping the device of moulded plastics, the spaces 15 are provided to facilitate a greater expandability of the members 1 and 2 within predetermined limits.

The foregoing description has been applied in defining what might be said to be the interior structure of the 2,844,154 Patented July 22, 1958 "ice members 1. It will appear that this shaping of the members 11 also provides, between adjacent members 1, restrictions 16 between the bowed or curved portion 7 of adjacent members 1 and another restriction 17 between the rounded ends 4 of the members 1. These restrictions, in combination with the restriction formed by the narrow spaces or openings 15, form, within the members 2, two substantially similar hair confining openings 18 and 19. These latter openings are used primarily when the device is used in what might be termed a twisted condition in support of irregular or wavy hair which has also been engaged by and confined within openings 6 and 9. In other words, in the normal use of the device, the device is moved into the hair with the tooth members 2 foremost, these latter members being restricted as to size to facilitate this operation. Furthermore, the comparatively long end portions of the members 2 permit the free insertion into-the hair while, at the same time, the wide throats 12 facilitate passage of the hair into the confining openings 9 and 6 in support or retention of the device in the hair in any predetermined position.

End strands of the device will have their ends fixed to one of the rounded ends 4, as noted at 20, it being understood that, in moulding the device of plastics, this would be an integral formation. and kind under consideration are sometimes used simply as combs, in which event, they are of relatively short lengths; whereas, in other instances, the length of the device is materially greater to engage greater portions of the hair upon the head and the ability to shape the device to conform to the head. Devices of this type and kind are inserted into the hair in the expanded state so that, upon release of pull upon the ends of the device, the members 1 and 2 will move toward each other in establishing a grip upon the hair disposed in the hair confining openings, previously described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A hair holding deviceof the character described, comprising a strand-like body of spring material, said body having a plurality of spaced tooth members along opposed edges thereof, the tooth members, at one side edge portion, being rounded, the tooth members, at the opposed side edge portion, being contracted and defined by closely arranged and spaced parallel strands joined in rounded ends, the sides of each of the first named tooth members having, intermediate and spaced from opposed edges of the device, a pair of contracted portions forming, within the confines of said sides of each of the first named members, two hair confining openings and an elongated throat-like opening, said throat-like opening being partially formed by a second named tooth member, one of said hair confining openings of each tooth member being arranged at the first side edge portion of said member, the other confining opening being arranged centrally of said member, the two contractions of the first named members being joined in elongated oppositely curved bow portions centrally of the device, said central bowed portions of adjacent first named members forming, centra-lly of each of the second named members, a restriction, the rounded ends of adjacent first named members forming, within each of the second named members, a second restriction, and said two restrictions of the second named members forming, within each of the second named members, two hair confining openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,669,239 Smith Feb. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,623 Great Britain Oct. 30, 1913 Devices of the type 

